Antiskid chain connector



Apzrfifi if 19510 G. A. ROBBINS 2,505,724

ANTISKID CHAIN CONNECTOR Filed NOV. 6, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A an-EH 25, 1950 Filed Nov. 6, 1945 r G. A. ROBBINS 2,505,724

ANTISKID CHAIN CONNECTOR 2 sheets-sheet 2 aazfiazzms WWW Patented Apr. 25, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTISKID CHAIN CONNECTOR George A. Robbins, Dunbar, Pa.

Application November 6, 1945, Serial No. 626,987

This invention relates to anti-skid chains.

An object of this invention is to provide in an anti-skid chain an improved means for releasably securing the ends of the side chains together.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved means for mounting the chain on a tire.

A further object of this invention is to provide in an anti-skid chain an improved means whereby the side chains may be tensioned when in applied position.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of an antiskid chain construction according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section partly in side elevation of one of the connectors showing the tightening tool in operative position,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a detail side elevation of the chain applying member,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing the use of the releasing tool, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-6 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings the numeral I designates generally a tire having mounted thereon an anti-skid chain generally designated as II. The chain I I includes a pair of side chains I 2 and a plurality of tread or cross chains I3 connected between the side chains I2 and engageable over the tread of the tire I0.

In order to provide an improved means whereby the ends of each side chain I2 may be detachably coupled together and whereby the side chains I2 may be tightened and readily released I have provided an elongated bar I4 which is secured by means of a connector I to one of the side chain I2. The bar It, as shown more clearly in Figure 2, is provided with two sets of teeth l6 and I! in one lengthwise edge thereof. The opposite end of the side chain I2 has connected thereto a keeper, generally designated as Ill. The keeper I8 is formed of a flat tubular member I9 within which the bar I4 is adapted to slidably engage. One end 1 Claim. (Cl. 152-242) of the keeper I8 is connected to the adjacent end of the side chain I2 by means of a pin 23 extended through the side walls of the tubular member I9.

The side walls of the tubular member I9 at their .inner ends are formed with offset extensions 2| connected together at their outer edges by an outer wall 22 which is shorter in length than the length of the extension 2|, so as to thereby form an elongated slot 23. The inner ends of the extensions 2I are connected together by a connecting bar 24 and a recess or notch 25 is formed in the extensions 2I adjacent the connecting member 24, the purpose for which will be hereinafter described. A pawl 26 is loosely disposed between the two extensions 2| being pivotally mounted on a pivot member 21 extending between the extensions 2| and the pawl 26 is constantly urged into engagement with the teeth I6 by means of a spring 28 mounted on a pin 29. The pawl 26 is formed with a second tooth or releasing dog 30 by means of which a releasing tool may be applied to a second dog 30, so as to pull the pawl or dog 26 out of engagement with the teeth I6.

In applying the chain to the tire I0 the two toothed bars I4 are releasably clamped on an applying member which includes a substantially ovoidal resilient strip 3I, which is bifurcated at the opposite ends thereof, as indicated at 32. A roller 33 is disposed between the bifurcations 32 being rotatably mounted on a shaft or pin 34 carried by the reversed ends 35 of the bifurcations 32. The resilient clamping member 3| is formed with a pair of resilient clips 36 which are struck outwardly on the opposite sides of the clamp so that the elongated bars I4 may be inserted in the clips 36 and held with the free ends thereof extending from the clamping member 3 I, as shown more clearly in Figure 1.

The keeper I8 is then slipped over the free end of the bar I4 as far as may be desired so as to substantially tighten the side chain I2. After the keeper I8 is engaged with the bar or bolt I4 the clamping member 3I may be removed from the tire and disengaged from the bars or bolts I4. The bar I4 may be moved inwardly with respect to the keeper I8 so to more tightly position the side chain about the tire by means of an elongated lever 31 which is formed with a bill 38 at one end thereof engageable with the teeth I1. The teeth I! are substantially shallow whereas the teeth I6 are relatively deep. The lever 31 has loosely mounted thereon a looped member 39 which is adapted to have the outer end 40 thereof engaged within the notches 25 of the side extension members 2 I, as shown more clearly in Figure 3 2. The lever 31 may then be rocked downwardly as viewed in Figure 2 whereupon the dog 26 will constitute a holding dog for holding the bar M in any endwise position determined by rocking of the chain tensioning lever 31.

When it is desired to release the side chain and release the dog 26 from the toothed bar M the lever 31 is reverted. The opposite end of the lever 31 is provided with a hook 4| carried by an arcuate shank {32 extending laterally fro'in the lever 31. The hook il isadaptedto engage -the"- releasing dog 30 as shown in Figure 5, so that forcible rocking downwardly as viewed in Figure 5 of the lever 31 will pull the dog ZBputof-en-J. gagement with the teeth l6.

With a skid chain as hereinbefore describediand-p" the applying means for the chain the latter may, be easily and quickly mounted on or removed from the tire. The clamping member 3|: may be:

forced onto the tire and then the bars M inserted inthe clips 36 with the teeth on these bars dise posed outwardly. The tire may then be rolled over the ground for substantially one turn, whereuponthe keeper m embers lii may be slipped over the extended ends ofthe bars I l, the keepermembers it being latched on the bars Hlby the spring pressed dogs 26 After the chain has been: initially loosely mounted onlthe tire the clamping member 3 may be disengagedfrom thebarsr l4 and the bars I4 moved additionally into theke ep ers l8 by the lever 31 ashereinbefore described.

The exact configuration illustrated isregarded as the optimum, but some of thedesirable:results i re i h d cl u e. m b qb ajinl dlb f various slight modifications includingsomegde;

parture from theexactconfiguration showmandit is; therefore requestedthat the scope of the in vention should be regarded aslirnited only bythe;

terms of the claim.

What I claim is:

In ananti-skid chain formed of a pair of-uside chains and aplurality of tread chains; connectors holding said bar in endwise adjusted position, a releasingjdogq formed on the outer edge of said p wl, an opening formed in the outer wall of said keeper the area of said outwardly extended ,side walls and; outwardly of said pawl through which a pawl releasing tool may be extended for engagement with said dog and rocking of said pawl out of engagementwith said toothed edge, and notches formed in said outwardly extending side :wallsand opening: in the;'directi'onof said one end of said 'ke'eper withinswhich a spanning tool may ibe'anchored for urging said bar into said keeper.

- GEORGE A. ROBBINS.

REFERENCES CIT-EDI The following references areo'f record in the file of this patent:

. N TED, TATES.

Number Name: Date 219,740 Kirkwood Sept. .16, 1879; 1,475,665 Gilbrtson: Nov. 20; 1923" 1,627,776 Haumerson' May 10;192'7 1,661,707 Small Mar. 6, 1928. 745,273; Romain Jan. 28,1936 1,801.159 Hunter Apr. 14', 1931 1,806,840 Campbell .L May 26,1 1931 COIlII :June 17, 1941, 

